Mumbai police raid activist home over Gaza solidarity kite-flying, deny warrant

On Friday, Mumbai police entered the residence of volunteer student Harshada, detaining five activists linked to Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine. Officers, some in plainclothes, arrived at about 3 pm and, without presenting a warrant or written notice, conducted a search that lasted more than nine hours, finally leaving at 2.30 am Saturday. A sixth activist was interrogated at the Bandra police station before being released later that evening.

Police recorded their findings in a panchnama but offered no explanation for the raid, which the group says was triggered by participants’ involvement in a global kite-flying campaign held from September 11-15 to show solidarity with Palestinian children. The organization denounced the action as an assault on civil liberties and a breach of privacy, demanding accountability. Deputy police commissioners have not responded to inquiries, and senior Bandra police inspector Ravindra Salunkhe said he was unaware of the incident’s details. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions over Israel’s classification of kites and balloons as security threats in the Gaza conflict.